Union Township sewer work starts in July

Work on two parts of a long-planned $3.9 million upgrade of Union Township’s sewer and wastewater treatment system is set to start before the end of July, according to the township’s utilities coordinator.

The work includes major improvements at the township’s wastewater treatment plan, upgrading a major lift station and making substantial improvements to a sewer line that serves numerous apartment complexes. Much of the work was planned as long ago as 2006.

“Our development went down,” said utilities coordinator Kim Smith, “and we didn’t want to spend the money.”

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The projects are being paid for by U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development loans. The township qualified for a 2.75 percent interest rate, Smith said.

“I’m more than happy” with that rate, said township trustee Bryan Mielke.

The first two parts of the work are a $274,000 upgrade for the sewer on Deerfield Road. Porath Contractors of Houghton Lake was the low bidder for that project.

Improvements at the township’s Lift Station No. 2 on Isabella Road are planned, as well. RCL Construction of Sanford was the low bidder at $183,700.

“We should have those going in the next 30 days,” Smith said. Especially with the Deerfield Road project, “We’ll want to get as much of the project complete before Central comes back in the fall.”

The third, and biggest part of the project is at the River Road waste treatment facility. Substantial upgrades in capacity are planned there.

Davis Construction of Kentwood is the low bidder, at slightly more than $3.4 million.

Smith said it’s not clear when that work would begin; the township still is awaiting all the permits required. The plant is licensed by both the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and the federal Environmental Protection Agency.

The federal Rural Development agency has approved a total of $4.8 million in funding for the project. That includes money to cover unexpected contingencies; the township will borrow only what’s needed when it’s needed.

The cost of paying back the loans is rolled into the rates that sewer customers pay.

Mark Ranzenberger is online editor of TheMorningSun.com. Follow him on Facebook at facebook.com/ranzenberger.